Abstract
The in vitro chemosensitivity of human head and neck malignant tumors was examined and analyzed in relation to several histopathologic factors. Histologically, malignant lymphomas and squamous cell carcinomas were sensitive to each examined anticancer drug. In squamous cell carcinomas, poorly differentiated tumors were more sensitive as compared to well or moderately differentiated tumors. DNA aneuploidy was found in 71% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. There was a tendency that poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas with DNA aneuploidy were most sensitive to each examined drug. The mean number of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in 81 squamous cell carcinomas was 4.58. In tumors with poor differentiation, the mean AgNORs number was higher than tumors with well or moderate differentiation. Tumors with higher AgNORs number seemed to be more sensitive to anticancer agents.
